MOSCOW (Sputnik) — During a meeting with the head of Russia's Ministry of Emergencies (EMERCOM) Vladimir Puchkov, Risikko said:
"We used Russian experience to support our own decisions, in particular in regard to updating the equipment for the rescue team, which operates in Arctic conditions."
She also expressed hope that Russia would share its experience to assist cooperation between the Arctic states.
The Russian Emergencies Minister proposed to expand the work of the Arctic Council, with a Russian EMERCOM strategy to eliminate emergencies, ensure the safety of the Arctic population, and to implement infrastructure projects in the region.
The Arctic Council is comprised of the eight Arctic nations — the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. The United States currently chairs the Arctic Council until the May 2017 ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in Fairbanks, Alaska.
